An Almost FAO Schwarz Christmas Job

I came back from Manhattan to Grandma Elizabeth’s house and told her my adventures for the day. It included a stop at the toy store, FAO Schwarz. She proceeded to tell me of interviewing for a Christmas job at the store. Her story ended in my mouth dropping open. The time frame: World War II….

Cleaning up the Automatic Passport Control System

Upon my arrival at Dulles International Airport, my escort met me at the gate with the wheelchair. As we approached the passport control checkpoint, the escort assured me that it wouldn’t take long, due to the machines that scan the passport. Oops! I had informed my father to arrive one hour after my plane landed;…

The Gratitude Letter Project

Turning fifty a few years ago compelled me to pause and reflect like so many who become middle aged. These reflections often take the form of questions: “why am I not where I thought I would be?” and “how did I get here?” My reflections have centered on “how did I become the person I…

My First Patent–From the Weak Write Test Mode Saga

Not all great ideas turn into patents; they simply are not novel enough to warrant the effort. Some ideas are so great that a company decides to keep them as a trade secret. The following exchange I had with Greg Taylor instructed me on how to determine if an invention should be patented: “Would other…